Improvement in the pistol-saber



R. B. LAWTON.

Pistol Sword.

PETERS, FHDTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

Patent-ed Nov. 23. 1837.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBT. B. LAWTON, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE PISTOL-SABER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48!, dated November 23, 1837.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. LAWTON, of the city and county of Newport, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Military Side-Arms, called Lawtons Pistol-Saber, which is described as follows, reference being bad to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specification.

The principal feature of this invention consists in combining a number of pistol-barrels in arevolving cylinder, with a saber in the center, on the shank of which the cylinder revolves between the saber and the handle, and causing the barrels to revolve successively by the movement of cooking the hammer, in the manner hereinafter described.

A is the saber, Figure 1..

B represents the barrels, arranged in parallel order, forming a cylinder of barrels revolving on the shank of the sword passing through the center of said cylinder and screwed into the end of the lock-plate at V, Figs. 2 and 4.

0 represents cones or nipples to receive the percussion-primers, Figs. 1 and 4.

D is the hammer, turning on a pivot,p,Fig. 2, inserted into the lock-plate X. E is the mainspring for driving the hammer, attached to the lock-plate at one end, the other end bearing upon the top of the hammer. (See Fig. 2.)

F is the trigger, made of an angular shape, turning on a pivot, Q, near the angle, with a roller, R, on the end of its short arm to reduce the friction between it and the hammer in raising the latter by drawing the trigger, Figs. 1 and 2.

G, Fig. 2, is the sliding catch, attached to the side of the hammer by screws for turning the cylinder of barrels, the sliding catch being pierced with oblong mortises, in which the shanks of the screws are placed, and over which the catch slides.

H, Fig. 2, is the circular ratchet on the end of the cylinder,into which the sliding catch G takes hold for turning the cylinder, the teeth being made of a triangular shape to allow the sliding catch to slide over them on the descent of the hammer and catch, in order to take a new hold for changing the barrel.

I, Fig. 2, is the spring pressing against the end of the sliding catch for holding it in contact with the teeth when cocking the hammer, and for suffering the catch to recede so as to slip over them when the hammer is driven down, as before mentioned, the oblong slots allowing of this backward and forward sliding of the catch. Both spring and catch are attached to the hammer and move with it.

L, Fig. 3, is the catch for preventing the return of the cylinder, and for keeping it in its proper position while firing. This catch moves on a pivot, q, and is pressed into contact with the circular ratchet by a spring, M. This catch and spring are placed on the opposite side of the lock-plate from that on which catch G is placed.

M is the spring for holding the catch L in contact with the teeth of the ratchet, and for preventing the cylinder turning back to the left, but sufl'ering it to slip over the teeth as it turns to the right. (See Fig. 3.)

N is the handle of the pistol-saber, secured to the lock-plate by straps or plates S and screws r. (See Fig. l.) A

O is the guard, secured to the handle at on end and to the saber at the other end. (See Fig. 1.)

S represents plates or straps for securing the lock-plate to the handle, the screws passing through from one plate to the other, and the saber to the lock-plate by screwing the end of its shank to into a female screw in the end of the lock-plate, which is turned at right angles. (See Figs. 2 and 4.)

The barrels of the cylinder being all charged and the cones capped and a discharge required to be made, the trigger is to be pulled in the manner of the common pistol-trigger. This raises the hammer by means of the trigger acting as a lever, the roller being directly over the pivot ot' the trigger when it stands cocked. The movement of cooking the hammer also turns the cylinder as far as is required to change the position of the barrel for a discharge by means of the sliding catch attached to the hammer coming in contact with a tooth of the circular rack on the end of the cylinder, the other catch on the opposite side of the plate being at the same time pressed by its spring in contact with a tooth of the ratch-' et for holding the barrel in a proper position for firing, and preventing its returning. When a. discharge is to be made, instead of pulling the trigger, as in the usual mode, it must be pushed from you, which removes the short arm of the trigger from its perpendicular position under the hammer, and thus sufi'ers the main spring to drive the hammer down upon the percussion-cap and thus produce a discharge. When the hammer descends the sliding catch slips over a segment of the circular rack and takes hold of another tooth, which, when another barrel is to be brought round for a discharge,turnstheeylinder thedistancerequired, the other catch also slipping over the ratchet and taking hold of another tooth for holding the cylinder in its proper position. In this manner the operation is repeated until all the barrels are discharged. They are then to be reloaded.

The saber is used in the usual manner of such like implements.

The invention claimed by me, the said ROB- ER'I B. LAWTON, and which'I desire to secure by Letters Patent, consists in- Ooinbiuing arevolving cylinder of parallel barrels with a saber in the manner before described, and causing it to revolve on the shank of the latter, between the shoulder and handle, and the method of turning the cylinder of barrels, as herein set forth, by the movement of cooking the hammer.

R. B. LAWTON.

Witnesses:

EBBEN H. SnnPAnD, W. S. RANDOLPH. 

